Interesting Facebook Post From A River Guide....

[flyfisher]

So here is the post

"I got a part time evening job .So I am now guiding the river full-time, so I'm available all the time .We are booked till the last weekend in September . Unless you wanna pay $200 a day and bump an existing reservation."

 

Just curious on everyone's thoughts about this statement....i'll post up my thoughts after we get a few responses  

[Smokinal]

I'm not scared...that's complete BS imo. I'd like to ask the guide one question, "Would you want your reservation, that you paid for and took vacation time from work for, bumped?"

I've run a very reputable auto center for 24 years. When I take an appointment, no matter how big or small the job, I do my absolute best to get that customer in and out on time. I can't tell you how many people come in, throwing their weight around and want to get in NOW because their situation is more important than everyone else's....sorry, you will get the same great treatment as I gave the guy before you...when it is your turn.

[flyfisher]

that was my exact thought too....he then proceeded to say he had to raise prices and had a mortgage yadda yadda....two completely different things in my mind.  If i make a guided trip reservation, take time off work and i get a call saying i was bumped i would be more than ticked.  Honestly, he doesn't seem like much more than a dude who likes to fish and wants to get paid while doing it where most guides that are good that i have been around won't pick up a rod all day long....

[K_Mac]

The guy might be a great fisherman. He may even be a great guide. If I had a date scheduled I would cancel and make sure he knew why. Smokinal explained clearly how a professional handles a full calendar. This guy has a lot to learn about how to treat people.

[Catch and Grease]

What kind of business man makes an agreement with someone then trashes it because someone else pays more money.

A bad one.

[Darren.]

Odd post, for sure. Either he's dull, or simply wasn't thinking straight (beer?) when posting. I suppose in some lines of work, the more money thrown around, the more bumps happen........

 

But fishing?

[Jolly Green]

But you gotta hand it to him for being completely upfront about his D-baggery.  I wonder if he's honest with his bumped reservations about the reason he's bailing on them or if he gives them some my-dog-ate-my-boat story.

[flyfisher]

But you gotta hand it to him for being completely upfront about his D-baggery.  I wonder if he's honest with his bumped reservations about the reason he's bailing on them or if he gives them some my-dog-ate-my-boat story.

i am thinking he isn't based on the additional comments defending his stand later one but who knows.....

[buzzed bait]

Sounds shady all around

[ClackerBuzz]

my only advice for him...don't quit ur 'part time evening job'  

[Driftb]

That is a guide that doesn't want you to think that he doesn't have a full calendar.  He is totally full of it.  You don't get a full calender just because you decide to go full time.  He isn't bumping anyone for $200/day. I wouldn't bump someone for $325 which is my daily rate. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't do it for 400 either. bad business.  I have a lot of repeat bizz and I intend on keeping it that way. I certainly won't screw a regular or a new client that respects me enough to send me a deposit. I won't hold a date on my calender without a deposit, except for an outfitter.  No deposit, you are taking chances.  You will probably lose the date.  That's the way it works in this business.

[tomustang]

What kind of business man makes an agreement with someone then trashes it because someone else pays more money.

A bad one.

A doctor/dentist.

[that possum]

If I get bumped, I better be getting my deposit back.

Then I'll book with his competition.

[SirSnookalot]

Even $200 a day is too cheap for a guide, if the initial price was less than that I'd be dubious of his expertise in the first place.  A contract is a contract written or verbal, make a deal and live up to it.

[Smokinal]

That is a guide that doesn't want you to think that he doesn't have a full calendar.  He is totally full of it.  You don't get a full calender just because you decide to go full time.  He isn't bumping anyone for $200/day. I wouldn't bump someone for $325 which is my daily rate. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't do it for 400 either. bad business.  I have a lot of repeat bizz and I intend on keeping it that way. I certainly won't screw a regular or a new client that respects me enough to send me a deposit. I won't hold a date on my calender without a deposit, except for an outfitter.  No deposit, you are taking chances.  You will probably lose the date.  That's the way it works in this business.

 

 

Even $200 a day is too cheap for a guide, if the initial price was less than that I'd be dubious of his expertise in the first place.  A contract is a contract written or verbal, make a deal and live up to it.

I was thinking the same thing. He'll bump someone for a $200 day? How much would it have been in the first place? When I went on my Falcon trip, our guide was $400 per day and I wasn't even impressed with his service...and he's a huge name down there.

[Lund Explorer]

So here is the post

"I got a part time evening job .So I am now guiding the river full-time, so I'm available all the time .We are booked till the last weekend in September . Unless you wanna pay $200 a day and bump an existing reservation."

 

Just curious on everyone's thoughts about this statement....i'll post up my thoughts after we get a few responses

 

I'm predicting a short career on the river during the day, and a much longer one at the drive thru window at night.

 

Perhaps his biggest mistake is failing to mention that he wants everyone to "Like" him on Facebook.  It seems to be the key to success these days.

[reb67]

I run my own business and find it funny when customers try to get me to FIT THEM IN because they thing there job is more important or pays more. I couldn't even image running my business that way if that got out your appointment book would clear quickly.

 

If that's the way he wants to run his business may he should not have a set price and just open all his dates up for bid. He has to be that good to be able to give up his evening job.

[Driftb]

IMHO- Choosing a guide has nothing to do with price.  Yeah the busier guides will boost their prices, but there is a lot more to it than that. Assuming most of the guides know where to find the fish. Some of those "big name guides"  guides don't seem to take an individual new client as seriously as the lower profile guys. As long as they get one picture for the website, they know they'll be home for the 6 o'clock news. Are they going to go the extra mile to make sure that your day on the river is a special one for you?  You want someone who is dependable and hard working, first and foremost. Then it's personality.  Is the guide someone you could see spending a day with on a boat?  What are the guide's hours? Do you want to fish with a  nine to fiver?  Or would you rather fish with someone who will tell you when the fishing is going to be best, and maybe stay late if need be, or even if you just feel like it?  I  sometimes see guides who are great at marketing working more than guides who are spending all their energy on the river.  Some guides see fishing as just a job, and other guides fish on their days off too.  Who would you rather fish with?

[Scott F]

The guide who says he would bump a client for a higher paying one is telling it like it is for a number of business'. I work for a Fortune 500 company. It is actually near the top 50 of all business' in the US. They have a philosophy called 80-20. 80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers. 80% of your sales come from 20% of your product line. Sam's Club is a good example. Their selection of merchandise is limited. They carry the 20% of the items a normal store carries that make up 80% of sales. These companies don't refuse business from the 80%, but they certainly cater to the 20 percenters who are their best customers. If 2 customers ask for a service to be done at the same time, the better customer, who provides a lot more business, will get preferential treatment every time.  Those of us not in that 20% club don't like it, but that's the way things are done. The big difference here is that the guide, who may or not really be booked, actually said it out loud.

[flyfisher]

Catering to which makes sense and bumping another paying client to me are completely different.  Do you think that at Sam's Club if someone who is a big spender will jump the line?  I don't, even though they may have special perks for customers who spend x amount of dollars per year.  To me this is completely different in that anyone can just pay a $200 fee and bump someone else from their spot.  

[Scott F]

I just used Sam's Club as an example of the 80-20 principle. Trust me, people get bumped by business all the time. You just won't hear them tell you you got bumped for a better offer. Usually you hear "It's going to take a little longer to get you car fixed" Or, "Our guys are running a little behind, the service man will get there as soon as he can."  Or, "Your table will be ready soon", Or "Your doctor is running late" while you sit in a waiting room an hour past your appointment time. You got bumped by a better customer and just didn't know it. 

[flyfisher]

i also think this is different because the offer is made to pay for that privilege.   I guess i am not as cynical as you are in thinking that scheduling is only done based on your client ranking....i know none of the small businesses i worked for did this.  And everyone knows doctors run late, it is part of their training.  They also treat many patients based on need for care not whose name is on the insurance card.

[Driftb]

Disney world does exactly that.  Pay more and jump the lines.  I am not Disneyworld though.  Matter of fact, I have a trip booked for Monday with a couple of regulars. The trip has been on my calender for a year.  I have had several inquiries for the day from other parties, but I won't try to move the other guys.  They want that day and I won't monkey with it.  The guys who come in on short notice will have to find other days.  Am I supposed to ask two company CEO's that treat me like a friend, are as good as their word, and always tip 30% to change their schedules so that I can take a stranger fishing?  Not likely.  Conversly, though, if I book someone, I will never bump him, unless he doesn't  send a deposit.  I treat every one the same, newbie or regular client, once they send me a deposit.  I might call and ask a client  if he would mind  fishing on an alternate date though.  Occasionally that works out well for everyone.

[gulfcaptain]

Hopefully he isn't using a boat, I highly doubt he's licensed and insured.  Sounds pretty shady to me.  No thanks, in his case you may have to pay him just to get you back home instead of taking you fishing. He should try that business model....take you fishing for $200, but if you want to come back its gonna cost you another $200 as well.

[Sam]

Catch and Grease, on 06 Sept 2014 - 21:13, said:

What kind of business man makes an agreement with someone then trashes it because someone else pays more money.

A bad one.

 

Politicians.